The sky lantern flying in Pingxi at the Lantern Festival has a history over a century. The sky lantern blessing remains the main part of the activity. The moment the sky lantern is lighted, hopes begin to soar. The blessing fires dance vividly and are transformed into wings of wishes. The sky lanterns decorate the night sky into an unusually attractive beauty. To be held are folk shows, lantern riddle guessing, and folk-exhibition streets, especially arranged for celebrating the Lunar New Year. In addition, this year, there will be an in-depth tour that integrates the sky-lantern culture with the ecological landscapes and railway and coal-mining culture of Pingxi. All these activities are intended to promote and deepen the general public's understanding of Pingxi.

Jingtong Train Station→Jingtong Mining Museum→Shihdi Inclined Shaft →Crown Prince Chalet→Hokaido Japanese-style Building→Pingxi Old Street (Touring the Old Street)→Pashian Cave→Air-raid Cave→Pingan Clock→(train passing by overhead)→65-year-old mailbox→Shihfen (walking along the railway street) →Loveres' Bridge→Shihfen Old Street (Sky Lantern Art Street)→Shihfen Visitors' Center→Shihguantan Suspension Bridge → Pothole → Yenjingdong Waterfall → Guanpu Suspension Bridge(train passing by overhead) →Shihfen Waterfall

The Origins of the Sky Lantern

Known as the "KongMing Lantern," the sky lanterns originated in the Three Kingdoms Jugehliang and forefathers brought them to the Shihgengliao area of Pingxi during the reign of Emperor Daoguang of Ching Dynasty. It was a time when riots and bandits attacked the villages quite often, and the villagers could not fight back but hide in the mountains. Not until the raids were over did the strong villagers who stayed in the village fly the sky lanterns to signal to the villagers to return home. Flying sky lanterns symbolizes family security and it is believed, serves as a messenger to the Heaven. Later, villagers wrote their wishes and blessings on the sky lanterns and flew them on Lunar January 15th, that is, the Lantern Festival. The wishes that have been made all year long are thus passed on to the Gods through the sky lanterns, hoping families will be protected by the Gods. This is the story behind the sky lantern flying originated in Pingxi.

The Theory of the Sky Lantern

The sky lantern floats by means of the hot air from burning. As shown in the commonly held theory- to expand when hot and to shrink when cold-, the air inside the sky lantern expands when filled in with heat. The limited lantern space emits excessive molecules into the air. Hence the air quantity inside the sky lantern is reduced, and the air density is then lessened. When the internal air density is lower than the outside, the so-called Archimedean floating forces are generated so much as to be able to propel the sky lantern up to the sky.

The Making of the Sky Lantern

First, make a bamboo frame using a piece of bamboo strip about 7 feet and 4 inches long to form a circle and fasten it with tapes. Next, use a wire and crisscross it around the middle of the circle. Lay down on a table a piece of brush-pen writing paper measuring 5 feet in length and 3 feet in width. After cutting the paper into the shape of a sky lantern, attach it to the bamboo frame. For the attachment of the paper and the bamboo frame, first, apply the double-sided tape over the outer bamboo frame, and then, attach it to the base of the brush paper. Next, lay out the paper and put on the bamboo frame reversely. Finally, glue the four sides of the circle and a sky lantern is completed. Prepare 12 to 15 pieces of "Shou Jin" (yellow paper with gold spots on it) and immerse them in coal oil. Tie the Shou Jin to the central point of the circle and it is now ready to be ignited.

Flying the Sky Lantern

First, jot down wishes on the sky lantern in black or red ink and then, sign the name of the wish maker. Usually, three people as a group firstly tear off the four sides of the "ghost money," and penetrate its center and fasten it with a reserved wire. Next, spread out the ghost money and lift the four sides of the lantern head by two persons and hold on to the base of the bamboo frame. Then, light up the ghost money by one person. After the inside of the sky lantern is filled with hot air, slowly release it in the direction it floats. The sky lantern will then ascend with the wind. Low lands with gentle wind are usually the ideal places for flying lanterns. In good weather, the sky lantern will automatically descend after the burning is exhausted.

Pingxi is world-renowned not only for its sky-lantern production but also for its "Township of Waterfalls." The waterfalls largely range from the Keelung River origin to Mt. Shanjao, most of which are located between Shifen and Sandiaoling station of Pingxi railway. There are over twenty waterfalls such as Shihfen, Lingjiao, Yenjingdong, and Shihuangtan, among which Shihfen is the most spectacular for its momentum. Shihfen Waterfall, also named as "Taiwanese Niagara Falls," is a rare broad curtain-like waterfall formed by faults of the Keelung River bed. This waterfall, twenty meters long and forty meters wide, falls straight down crystal-like. The sunlight forms a seven-color rainbow over the pond below which wins Shihfen Waterfall another romantic name, "The Colorful Rainbow Pool." Visitors may have a relaxing and pleasant tour by taking the small train rather than walking.

Pingxi Township has many hills and mountains. In the north Shiaotzshan (Mt. Filial Piety) is a popular hiking route and Tzumu Peak is unique and awesome. The summit of these two peaks where breezes blow commands an impressive view of the entire Pingxi. Nearby the steep mountains stand erect like guards and the naked rocks show off their complacency. The two peaks along with the neighboring mountains are reputed as the "Small Yellow Mountain."

Located next to the Jingtong Train Station, the Jingtong Mining Museum features Pingxi sky lanterns, coal mining, railways, waterfalls, potholes, and natural and human landscapes. The museum introduces the history of how the coal mining has been developed over the past century in the Jingtong Area, as well as the history of the mine tunnels. Exhibited on the second floor are the models of the nearby Jingtong Train Station and under-the-rock mining, as well as the footages of former miners' narration of the development of the mining industry.